Lifelong friends, and colleagues, Nico Rhodes and Patrick Courtin, shocked and appalled by the realization that piano just isn’t cool anymore, set off on a divine quest to redeem the keyboard and reinstate its reputation as the greatest instrument of ALL TIME!
Armed with the music of the greatest composers, songwriters and performers of the past 400 years, and the technology of the 21st century – their virtual orchestra (Bob), Nico and Patrick deliver everything from Classical piano raptures to bombastic boogie woogie, from romantic piano ballads to 80’s keyboard synth battles in their show Piano Heist! What ensues is a mishmash of theatrical wonder, comedy, audience participation, heartfelt stories, a pinch of history, and a world of musical madness.
Here is some of the piano music you will hear at the premiere of Piano Heist on April 22: Prelude in C Major – J.S. Bach; Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen; Nocturne n.2 – Chopin; Crocodile Rock – Elton John; Claire de Lune – Debussy; Flight of the Bumble Bee – Rimsky Korsakov; Take 5 – Dave Brubeck; We are the Champions – Queen; Tico Tico – Zequinha de Abreu; Phantom of the Opera – Andrew Lloyd Webber; Benny and The Jets – Elton John; Mission Impossible – Lalo Schifrin; Pink Panther – Henry Mancini; Hockey Night in Canada – Dolores Claman; Whiter Shade of Pale – Procol Harum and more.
Project Creator: Nico Rhodes is a genre jumping, multilingual musician who collaborates with other artists and artforms to experience and explore music in as many styles as possible. Growing up touring around the globe surrounded by artists and the world of theatre – he is equally comfortable playing jazz, classical, funk or roots music, orchestrating a symphony, writing musicals, and conducting choirs. He begins his day with an expresso and practicing his Japanese, the language he is currently embracing.
The Performers:
Nico Rhodes is one of the most in demand young arranger/musical directors in Canada, with 40 stage musicals to his credit. He’s written 400 original compositions, four original musicals and arranged two symphonic pops concerts. He’s been nominated for two Jessie and five Ovation Awards and in 2019 was honoured with Nanaimo’s Emerging Cultural Leader Award. He composes for stage, screen, and media, collaborates with multiple choirs, plays with several jazz trios and tours in a duo with his mother, renowned chanteuse Joelle Rabu. In 2021-2022 season, Nico produced a series of four multi-artist multi-genre concerts entitled Chapters for The Port Theatre.
Patrick Courtin is a multi-instrumentalist, accompanist, arranger/composer, music director, transcriber and music teacher working on multiple projects and genres that include jazz, classical, musical theatre, funk, rock, folk. He has toured extensively in North America and Asia and currently resides in Parksville, BC. Patrick and Nico have been performing together for over 20 years.
You are invited to join the heist at the premiere of Piano Heist on April 22, 2023 at The Port Theatre.
www.pianoheist.com
